By Chukwuma Umeorah
Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, has shed light on the motives behind the institution’s pioneering initiatives aimed at promoting inclusivity in education, particularly for Persons Living With Disabilities (PWDs).
Oloyede, who spoke on the Arise Television Morning Show, yesterday, said the purpose behind JAMB’s Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG) was not solely for favouritism or sympathy but to ensure individuals with disabilities have a sense of belonging and to increase inclusivity in the education system.
He said the intention was beyond examinations and educational purposes only but to foster societal consciousness.
“What we have also done was to create societal consciousness of the existence and needs of people with disabilities to other people so that they could attend to their needs,” he said.
The registrar added that JAMB had always been an advocate for inclusive education. In addition to free registration and sorting transportation logistics for PWDs as it has done in the past, more innovative measures were being taken to enlarge the scope of the initiative to cater for all forms of disabilities, including autism, down syndrome, among others, as more research are being carried out by JAMB to design a well-thought pre and post-examination process to cater for their individual needs.
He highlighted the establishment of support units in tertiary institutions, the removal of barriers in the examination process, and the provision of facilities such as audio books and accessible examination instructions.
“We are also creating an opportunity for universities and polytechnics and the entire tertiary education system to develop accurate statistics about people living with disabilities by category in their respective institutions,” he said.
While calling for the government’s support, he assured the public that the JEOG is designed to address the diverse needs of all categories of disabilities. He reiterated JAMB’s commitment to providing equal opportunities without compromising the mainstream education system.
Chief Executive Officer and Founder of TAF Africa and Convener of Disability Inclusion Nigeria, Jake Epelle, who was also on the show, expressed his admiration for the initiative and commended Oloyede and the JAMB team for their visionary leadership.
“If we have more Nigerians in public offices like him, this country will move forward. Education is the key, and this initiative is a significant step towards inclusive education,” he said.
Epelle emphasised the importance of education in unlocking success and breaking barriers, saying: “The more educated a person is, the more likely they are to succeed,” noting that an increased number of educated persons would impact positively on the economy as many more people would be gainfully engaged.
He also stressed the need for more advocacy and outlined the Foundation’s plans to take the message to the hinterlands and rural communities by engaging local governments and traditional and faith-based institutions, conducting town hall meetings, and leveraging social media. He emphasised intentional and dedicated approaches and partnerships with various stakeholders to ensure widespread awareness.